Despite the indications that the A50s and R18s were moving toward Blackfish Sound, after being in Queen Charlotte Strait earlier, we did not hear their calls until 12:26am. The A50 (A30) calls came first followed by the Rs much later at 1:04am. By 1:30am the A50s were closer to Flower Island, their calls were loud, clear and punctuated by a lot of echo location. It took the Rs till 1:51am to draw closer to Flower Island. By then the A50s were making their approach into Blackney Pass and at 1:55am the Lab was able to hear their blows just near the cusp of Blackfish Sound and Blackney Pass. The Rs were now close to Flower Island.
And then that was it! There were no further calls, no sense of the A30s progressing to Johnstone Strait and as you would have it the two groups turned up once again in Queen Charlotte Strait later in the morning. At 9:57am the ever vigilant Troy at Bere Point observed the A50s resting, the A72s foraging with the R18s. Generally, they were all headed west.
The T099s provided some excitement in Johnstone Strait turning up just before Noon off the Ecological Reserve. Other reports of their progress west past the rubbing beaches at 12:15pm. The Cetus group continued to report that at 12:57pm these Bigg’s were now west of the Reserve. Their identity was confirmed by Scotty by 1:25pm.
Barbara offered some possible insight into the Northern Residents movement in Queen Charlotte Strait near Balaklava Islands not far from Scarlett Point. The description fit but there were no photos. Later at 6:50pm the A50s were definitely identified heading northwest off Port Hardy.
A short summary but full of long travels!
